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Why I’m Finally Picking Up Those Paintbrushes

Do you ever get to the end of a week and struggle to remember what actually happened?

Monday blurs into Tuesday, which somehow becomes Friday, and before you know it, another month has vanished.

I watched a video last month (I already wrote about the concept of “good” – a few weeks ago, which was in this video – one day I will find it again so I can share it!) and the creator made a brilliant point about why time seems to accelerate as we get older. It’s not that time speeds up. It’s that we stop creating new memories worth storing.

When every day follows the same pattern – same breakfast, same route to work, same evening routine – our brains essentially hit autopilot. There’s nothing novel to catalogue, so the days just… disappear.

The solution? Do something new every week.

And here’s the thing – it doesn’t have to be dramatic. You don’t need to book a skydive or learn Mandarin. Small acts of novelty are enough to wake your brain up and create those memory anchors that make life feel lived rather than endured.

From Watching to Doing

For about a year now, I’ve been following a watercolour artist on YouTube, saving her tutorials with every good intention of “trying it later.” My saved folder now resembles a graveyard of postponed creativity (and interesting recipes!).

So, coincidentally, at the end of last year, I actually dragged myself to The Works, picked up some inexpensive paints, brushes, and paper, and started her new 30 painting challenge. Every other day, I’m learning something new.

Am I any good?

😂😂😂😂 Absolutely not. But that’s not the point.

The point is creating new neural pathways (and having fun – remember that?).

I’m literally rewiring my brain.

When we learn new skills, we strengthen the connections between our meridians and our mental processes. The Kidney meridian, which governs willpower and determination, gets a workout. The Liver meridian, responsible for planning and vision, lights up as I work out colour mixing and brush techniques (this has not always gone well!!).

From a chakra perspective, creative activities activate the sacral chakra – that gorgeous energy centre that governs joy, playfulness, and expression. Those things many of us abandon the moment we become “proper adults.”

Your Turn

So here’s my challenge for you this week: try something new.

It could be:

• Taking a different route on your morning walk.
• Trying that recipe you’ve been saving on Instagram.
• Finally attempting that craft project.
• Speaking to someone you wouldn’t normally chat to.
• Something.
• Anything.
• Just different.

Time will tell if it helps me feel like I’m slowing life down to a more comfortable pace, but even if it doesn’t, I’ll have some truly terrible paintings to show for it.

What are you going to try?

Add a comment or message me and let me know – I’d love to hear what novelty you’re planning to bring into your week.

With paint-splattered fingers,

Angela

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If you fancy joining me in the painting challenge, this is the one I am following https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVDz8D4ji0V3sI0ydAdg4OKpz0htZnVeA but there are so many of them to choose from if you don’t resonate with Andrea.